Saturday, February 9, 2008

Tonia and I were shopping this afternoon and I found this canvas stretched on a frame - it's big 28x22, and ANYTHING Yorkie is hard to find. And it's little tongue is sticking out of it's mouth, just like the M&M's.... *sigh* I'm in love....

What am I going to do with it? Heck if I know, but I HAD TO HAVE IT!!!!! Seriously, I'll just take something down from the den and put this up. We have a lot of old advertising stuff on the walls in the den, but nothing Yorkie - This was too good to pass up. Yeah, even LC liked it....

We're in Nashville today, at John and Tonia's. The weather is amazing, we just had lunch on the deck, Tonia and I had on sunglasses, the sun was so bright, and it was actuallyWARMHOT.. All the fur kids enjoyed lazing around in the sun, too. It was more like April than February.

They will be mowing soon, their grass in the backyard is green and growing. I just checked Heavensville's forcast, YIKES, it's going to be a HIGH of 28 tomorrow... What a difference a day makes...

Thursday, February 7, 2008

There is a site called Vote Chooser - I read about it from Lori, at PugsPlace, anyhoo, you go to the Vote Chooser site, answer ten questions, it pools your answers into a database, and tells you which candidate you should vote for in the 2008 election.

I'm not so much a fan of awards shows anymore. I just can't identify with the music, or the performers, but, this is something I will definitely want to watch - check this out... I'm a HUGE Tina fan...

Just in: The Grammys have announced several performers and presenters for this year's show!

The big news is that six-time Grammy winner TINA TURNER will perform a duet with BEYONCE during a special segment of the show. Beyonce has paid tribute to Tina in the past with a performance at the 2005 Kennedy Center Honors, but this is the first time they will share the stage together.

Check out this clip of Beyonce singing Proud Mary - she just nails it - it's AWESOME...

~ jan

And of course, you have to watch the real deal. OMG, I had forgotten how those legs go ALL the way up to her a** - simply AMAZING...

I've seen two shows lately that went on and on about how mid-life is a great time for women. Just last week Oprah had a whole show on how great menopause will be . . Puhl eeeeee eze! I've had a few thoughts of my own and would like to share them with you. Whether you are pushing 40, 50, 60 (or maybe even just pushing your luck), you'll probably relate.

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down. This gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache.

In mid-life women no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.

Mid-life is when you can stand naked in front of a mirror and you can see your rear without turning around.

Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless.

Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, 'Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too.'

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones.

Mid-life is when you look at your know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: 'For this I have stretch marks?'

In mid-life your memory starts to go. In fact the only thing we can retain is water.

Mid-life means that your Body By Jake now includes Legs By Rand McNally -- more red and blue lines than an accurately scaled map of Wisconsin .

Mid-life means that you become more reflective . . . You start pondering the 'big' questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important. We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

The Dell Dude was here, and he sat in the floor and plugged stuff into my tower, and he fired it up and the screen was bright green, looks like the video card is bad now. So he ordered one and he's coming back in a day or two. And after he left I turned it on just to see if my harddrive was working and it sounded weird. So now I guess the sound card has a problem, too. And I can't wait for him to try and activate the media center, I bet the tv part won't work either.

And so here I sit, on my laptop, by the fireplace, at least I'm online, I'm not scrapping, which is what I want to do, but at least I can be in touch with all my favorite sites.

I'm seriously computer addicted, girlfriends, but then you all knew that. I just don't handle this kind of stuff well. I don't like conflict, I just want everything to WORK....

You'll never know how much grief I've gotten from my family since my blog entry about sitting in the car in the garage when toronado warnings were issued. OMG, they all came down on me like a ton of bricks, saying that was the stupidest idea I've ever had.

Ryan called this morning, first thing, to tell me that he watched news footage of the toronado last night at that university and all the car windows were blown out. So, I told him that I have a new theory. I'll get in the TRUNK of the car. Doesn't that make sense? Totally enclosed in the garage, no glass can get to me, surrounded by metal. Of course, I don't know how I would get OUT, if I slammed the trunk lid, so I told him if there was a storm and I was nowhere to be found to look in the car trunk.

Well, you can imagine his reaction to that. So, then I was thinking that if I was in the bathroom or in the closet where everyone tells me to go, of course I would be holding the M&M's, but I might not be able to hold on to them in a storm and they would just blow away. Well the thought of that is absolutely unfathomable, so I told Ryan that I would put THEM in the car trunk so they would be safe. Or, I could possibly put them in the washer and the dryer. Hey, these dogs are little, remember?

Well, he thinks that would really traumatize them, but at least they wouldn't be unprotected. Oh, I think this computer crisis has just totally fried my pea brain today.......

It all started with a trip to the oral surgeon, and computer problems, so I wasn't online all day, then we had a stormy night. Jeez Louise, it wasn't one of my better days.

I went to bed yesterday afternoon, sweet Maggie, just kept sniffing my face, just sniffed and sniffed, and then she licked my cheek,then snuggled down beside me with her head on my cheek and just laid there, so quiet, she wasn't sleeping, but she knew something was not quite right and I think she was trying to help. Sweet little soul...

And last night it was stormy and hubby was working, and there I sat, in the chair, reading a book with Mags in my lap and Munchie next to me on the ottoman. And I felt safe... Yeah, I know it's an illusion, but it was comforting. Those of you who aren't doggie parents, have no idea of what you're missing...

And now the Dell Dude is coming this afternoon to fix my computer, so I will be back scrapping "hopefully" and in a much better mood. And am I hurting from the dental crap, nope, I'm swollen, but not hurting. And I did have Marti take me thru G. D. Ritzy's yesterday for a strawberry malt, oh that did help. Really it did. Veronica Jeanne, if you're reading this, I know you're smiling, V thinks strawberry malts make every problem in life easier, too...

So I'll be back soon dear hearts, boring you all with my silly nonsense. Life will be good again. Let's just hope the Dell Dude can fix my puter!!!

Stephani posted this quiz on her blog, same quiz, different answers, of course... I swiped it. Thanks Steph... Anybody else want to answer this, just jump right in there...

1. Who would you love to be your Valentine?

Okay, you all know who my valentines are, let's go outside the box..... I would love my valentine to be.... ummmmmmm.... The Barefoot Contessa - HUH??? WHY??? So she could cook for me, silly.... My valentine doesn't have to be a man. Well, if I'm perfectly honest, I wouldn't mind Paula Deen cooking DESSERT for me, but I would want the Contessa to do the appetizer and the main course. I'm hungry, no dinner yet, can you tell???

2. What treat would you love to receive in a heart-shaped box?

A salad from Olive Garden... Well, I would.... Or that new Voyager Cell Phone, that would be FANTASTIC... I've probably got a better shot at the salad...

3. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

OMG, I did in high school, let's don't go there...

Did you find out who it was?

Yes, actually it was more of a STALKER... For real it was... And then there was the perverted neighbor when I was in my 20's who would call me on the telephone, whispering obscene messages. YUCK...... Well, he did until one time when he called, not knowing LC was home and hubby got on the phone and read him the riot act. ***MY HERO*** Stupid neighbor never called again. But he did leave his wife for their teenage babysitter. MEN, SCHMEN!!!

9. If I could spend Valentine’s Day anywhere in the world _____________

It would be with hubby in a bed and breakfast at Carmel by the Sea, cozy fireplace, a gadzillion thread count sheets, fresh flowers everywhere, room service breakfast with a pot of steaming hot coffee, brewed from freshly ground gourmet beans, fresh scones AND croissants AND an assortment of warm blueberry, bran, yes, BRAN, I like bran, banana and morning glory muffins, AND soft, creamy unsalted butter AND boysenberry jam with whole boysenberries, AND a fruit and cheese plate, sharp wisconsin cheddar, baby swiss, and a wedge of brie, strawberries, pineapple, peaches, red grapes, watermelon and fresh 'squoze' orange juice, with pulp, California oranges, of course.

The M&M's would be curled up by the fire, there would be a stack of morning papers to read, smooth jazz on the stereo and shopping and lunch later in the village with a prepaid, unlimited charge card. Maggie Moo would be tucked into my purse for everybody to ooh and ahh over (oh, she would be freshly bathed and groomed and having a really good fur day, too, in designer doggie duds, Munchie would be trotting by my side on a rhinestone studded leash with a hot pink Chanel collar, her shiny coat glistening in the sun, and hubby would be ferrying all my purchases to the car and not complaining... AND, did I say that I wouldn't gain a pound from all that food and that I would slide into size 10 clothes, no make that size 8, and I wouldn't look a day over 5040 35. AND, I would be having a really good hair day, my makeup would be perfect, and I would have this GREAT trendy outfit, and a KILLER Hermes bag WITH matching wallet, and a FANTASTIC pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes... ahhhhhhhhh...... And since it is pure fantasy, I would LOVE to drop in later on Doris Day, and show her my dogs, and Betty White would be visiting her, and we would all have tea, with all of our dogs by our feet, and talk about their old movies... Well, actually Doris Day does have an Inn in Carmel that is dog friendly, maybe I would just want to say there instead of the bed and breakfast, but I would want to visit her at her house.. We would stay in the Honeymoon suite, of course... Ocean view.... Red rental car... convertible... top down...

10. Who is the most romantic couple in history?

Bacall and Bogart, Hepburn and Tracy, Lucy and Ricky, even Fred and Ethel had their moments... Omg, all these people are DEAD, except for Bacall.... Yikes...

Well, today was library day. I usually have a reserved books to pick up, but not today. Today it was strictly go through the shelves, browse the aisles, see what I can find day... And what did I find??? A bazillion books for young women, not teenagers, YOUNG WOMAN. All the titles on the covers were written in various squirly fonts, showing 20 something women in various stages of dress undress. And while I have no problem with this, I'm glad that younger women are reading, and even I occasionally enjoy these books, usually ones suggested by Lindsay.

But, I don't want to read these on an ongoing basis. I'm long past my twenties, but I'm having a REALLY hard time finding books that interest me. Trisher gave me one of her books to read, a Charlotte LaRue mystery by Barbara Colley, but I just couldn't get into it. I've exhausted my favorite authors, read everything they've ever written - if you look at my Library Books in the right side bar (scroll down a bit) YES, I finally updated the list, you will see a bunch of nonsense. I'm even rereading my favorite LaVerle Spencer, even though I've read everything she ever wrote, I'm now reduced to rereading.

So if ANY of you have a great author, somebody that will interest women of a "certain" age, PLEASE, leave me a comment or email me. I would really like some input. And what do I read? Trash, light romance, light mystery, hopefully with a heroine over the age of 30. Some of my favorite authors are Barbara Delinsky, Nora Roberts, and Jude Devereaux. I also like contemporary novels, I'm not a fan of historicals.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

All these XOXOXOXO's are grating on my last nerve. I said I wouldn't redo this page before Valentine's Day, but egads, this is wearing a little thin...

I've been working on Milly Scraps - the first two pages are brand new, and totally different than what I had before - Check the first page out HERE and then click on thru to the next page to see my new index page. Now I don't like my other index pages. This stuff NEVER ends..... It's a good winter project, though... keeps me outta the looney bin.... Well, that's debatable...

I found John's favorite boyhood pie, Mrs. Hulling's Banana Coconut Cream Pie, and it's in Mother's handwriting, that's the next thing to scrap, check back later and I'll post the link. Oh, and is it ever GOOD, ladies, OMG, this pie is nectar of the gods...

And speaking of Banana Coconut Cream Pies, I just posted a recipe on Jan CAN Cook, it's not Mrs. Hulling's, but it's an amazing pie - this one has a coconut crust - it's really different, and if you aren't good at making pie crust, this one is a no brainer. It's from the L.A. Food Times, from a few years ago, it's good, too. Oh, would I love a piece of pie.... But oh no, I'm TRYING to be good... My life sux....

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I'm Jan, thanks for stopping by...

I gush about the grandkids, post strange, rambling erratic thoughts, embarrass my family and friends and often I sit in the sunshine, drink diet sweet tea and try my best to live in the moment every . single . day . Did I leave anything out? Hey, I'm old(er) now and wiser too. Now if I could just remember what I'm talking about and whom I'm talking to...